Awwwwwright! Think I'll have a half-a-cup to celebrate!
The best part of this whole exercise was just learning something new each day--or each thing! I loved the "strain your brain" part of this. The Reader is keeping me occupied in the Lab each day. I love the LibraryThing--I hate starting a book and discovering I've read it already. WorldCat on the OCL website is terrific; a number of patrons are coming in talking about it. Sharing what I've learned with my guy has been lots of fun. We're both learning. He's discovered Google Docs. And knowing that my kids ("the boys") are following my blog tickles me.
So, thanks OCL WebThings team. Even with a late start, it was easy to catch up and accomplish all 23 Things without too much stress. Looking forward to Web 3.0!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
ListenNJ - Thing #22
So the last task was the hardest for me. Since I was loading new software on our home computer, I asked my own Techie to take part in this one. Sometime I'll tell you about googling a Prohibition-era whiskey to find its value and consequently downloading porn--which took over our computer.
After fits and starts I was able to download Down in New Orleans by Billy Sothern. It's as clear as any CD I've taken from the library. I was disappointed that so many of the books I wanted to download were unavailable. Where did they go? Does ListenNJ just have the copyright to only one "copy" of each book? Frustration aside, looks like I'm going to be enjoying this Thing.
After fits and starts I was able to download Down in New Orleans by Billy Sothern. It's as clear as any CD I've taken from the library. I was disappointed that so many of the books I wanted to download were unavailable. Where did they go? Does ListenNJ just have the copyright to only one "copy" of each book? Frustration aside, looks like I'm going to be enjoying this Thing.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Podcasting - Thing #21
Looking for "coffee talk" I wound up finding this podcast and thought it would be more interesting to me than coffee news for dealers. Many of the podcasts have "old news" but this one was from Friday. Swedes love coffee; it flows in their veins! So this is almost as good to me as "coffee talk."
Swedish News in English
Swedish News in English
Friday, May 16, 2008
YouTube Latte Art - Thing #20
Again I spent too much time having fun on YouTube. Of course, I searched for coffee and Gevalia (some very funny Swedish commercials), but this video for latte art was the best. No sound but wow! That's some steady hand. There were other videos done by different people, but none as good as this one.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Web 2.0 Awards - Thing #19
So I spent far too much time playing with this! For City Guides I tried Yelp.com and discovered the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago as the second entry under Education--where my son is Director of Marketing. It had so many rave reviews that I had to forward it to him. My Lab computer got locked up on Wayfaring maps site when I tried to locate my house--not too impressive. I discovered on the Philanthropy site that I could order "planet friendly" underwear from Care 2! Wouldn't it be more "planet friendly" to go without????
But the worst was Zillow.com, a real estate site. Since I've been trying to sell my house for what seems like 101 years, I thought I'd check it out. The aerial map showed the house across the street and said my house was worth $66,000 more than we're asking. Or maybe the house across the street is worth that much more than mine. (I don't think so!) Apparently they are not reflecting current market conditions!
So I wasn't too impressed by these sites. Pandora is next on the list. I've heard rave reviews.
But the worst was Zillow.com, a real estate site. Since I've been trying to sell my house for what seems like 101 years, I thought I'd check it out. The aerial map showed the house across the street and said my house was worth $66,000 more than we're asking. Or maybe the house across the street is worth that much more than mine. (I don't think so!) Apparently they are not reflecting current market conditions!
So I wasn't too impressed by these sites. Pandora is next on the list. I've heard rave reviews.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Web Apps - Thing #18
I love it when I can show my computer-savvy guy anything "computer!" He plans to submit his Power Point presentation for the June Artist Guild show to Reference this way.
As an SLA and not terribly creative(!), the best use of Google Docs that I can think of for the library would be to put Circ procedures on a Google Doc and have a committee work on getting every step down for each task. I know the Albany Public Library had this on a wiki. Google Docs seems to be a more familiar tool, particularly to those who did not do the Web Things Challenge. I've found that procedures change constantly in TR. Anyone who comes in new and hasn't performed a particular task or doesn't get to do a task frequently needs written procedures for some of the more complicated tasks, such as running mailers or counting money. Being able to update frequently and with ease would make life so much simpler for the new employee and those who work with them and must answer 101 questions.
As an SLA and not terribly creative(!), the best use of Google Docs that I can think of for the library would be to put Circ procedures on a Google Doc and have a committee work on getting every step down for each task. I know the Albany Public Library had this on a wiki. Google Docs seems to be a more familiar tool, particularly to those who did not do the Web Things Challenge. I've found that procedures change constantly in TR. Anyone who comes in new and hasn't performed a particular task or doesn't get to do a task frequently needs written procedures for some of the more complicated tasks, such as running mailers or counting money. Being able to update frequently and with ease would make life so much simpler for the new employee and those who work with them and must answer 101 questions.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Playing in the Sandbox - Thing #17
Playing in the Sandbox was fun. I think OCL needs an Austen group where we can all sit around and talk about Mr. Darcy. Maybe an Austen wiki!
However, frustration became my emotion of the morning when I tried to leave my blog link on the OCL Webthings Blogs page. You know it's insanity when you keep trying the same thing over and over and over again. Nobody told me all the links have to be blue. I spent far too much time trying to make my half-a-cup link with a brown background and white letters. So it's brown and blue--mentally I am black and blue!
However, frustration became my emotion of the morning when I tried to leave my blog link on the OCL Webthings Blogs page. You know it's insanity when you keep trying the same thing over and over and over again. Nobody told me all the links have to be blue. I spent far too much time trying to make my half-a-cup link with a brown background and white letters. So it's brown and blue--mentally I am black and blue!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Wikis - Thing #16
Wikipedia is a tool I've been using for quite awhile--introduced to it by my son a year or so ago. So Wikis are not a foreign concept.
The Common Craft videos are all terrific. I've loved all of them. They could make just about anything seem simple and easy to understand.
The OCL Wikipedia entry is one of the best I've read. Love the photos of the library and the discussion of the art pieces.
Since I went to the class on Sensitivity of Seniors yesterday, I checked out the Services for Older Adults on the Library Services wiki. Enjoyed the blog from a librarian in Australia who addresses senior and boomer issues. Also article from Chicago about seniors, loneliness and the library--a universal topic.
Why doesn't OCL have a blog listed on the public library blog section?
The Common Craft videos are all terrific. I've loved all of them. They could make just about anything seem simple and easy to understand.
The OCL Wikipedia entry is one of the best I've read. Love the photos of the library and the discussion of the art pieces.
Since I went to the class on Sensitivity of Seniors yesterday, I checked out the Services for Older Adults on the Library Services wiki. Enjoyed the blog from a librarian in Australia who addresses senior and boomer issues. Also article from Chicago about seniors, loneliness and the library--a universal topic.
Why doesn't OCL have a blog listed on the public library blog section?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Library 2.0 - Thing #15
Hey, I'm not a librarian, but I know a good library when I see it! I hope that OCL will continue to meet the challenge of Web 2.0. Michael Stephens article about the new world of librarianship was down to earth and made a lot of sense. Keep up, but don't go overboard. I loved the terms "technolust" and "techno-worship." Continuous monitoring and conversations with our patrons is the only way to go. We have to be realistic in budgeting and purchasing. After all, it is the Ocean County taxpayer who is providing the funds for our growth.
I keep going back to that conversation with a "senior lady" who insisted that we as a library are doomed. Kindle will do us in. There are two extremes at work here--those of us who love to curl up with a book and those of us who are information junkees. The library is the place for both groups.
I keep going back to that conversation with a "senior lady" who insisted that we as a library are doomed. Kindle will do us in. There are two extremes at work here--those of us who love to curl up with a book and those of us who are information junkees. The library is the place for both groups.
Technorati - Thing #14
I found myself going in circles on this site. I kept coming back to the "Library Ladies" videos. It's election night in NC and IN so I thought I'd check out some political blogs. "Doh! The Technorati Monster escaped again!" was the error message I got. Must be lots of people out there looking up political commentary. I've been reading Craig Crawford's blog and I might add Arianna Huffington. Time is the issue. So much to read; so little time!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Del.icio.us - Thing #13
I was hoping for chocolate!
It's just not to my taste--am I too old for this? If I were in a corporate, educational, not-for-profit situation (or, for that matter, a library!), I might be really excited about this. But I'm afraid this is TMI for me. I'm not doing serious research in my mundane life. Had I had this tool 20 years ago when I was teaching, wow!
It's just not to my taste--am I too old for this? If I were in a corporate, educational, not-for-profit situation (or, for that matter, a library!), I might be really excited about this. But I'm afraid this is TMI for me. I'm not doing serious research in my mundane life. Had I had this tool 20 years ago when I was teaching, wow!
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